Wednesday, March 16, 2016

Wonderful Wednesday

This morning, right after the announcements, we were treated to a WONDERFUL cultural arts assembly! We participated in a concert, performed by Envirodrum, using instruments from recycled goods. It's was a lot of fun. Thanks, PTA!

When we returned to class, our literacy block was already 2/3 over. So, we quickly reviewed today's independent work assignments and then I met with individual students to conduct the monthly, informal, reading assessments.

Students began with an independent guided reading group task. Then they practiced their word work words writing them once and highlighting tricky parts. After that, they continued using Encyclopedia Britanninca to learn about culture and then completed a 3-2-1 follow up.

Pink: Independently they reread pages 8-1,1 and, in their RRJ, answered two questions I created by turning the headings, in this section, into a question.

Green: Independently the students turned the chapter title, on page 17, into a question, and then read pages 17-28 and answered the question they wrote, in their RRJ. In group we shared their questions and answers. Then we discussed the chapter, in greater depth, looking at the reasons behind Annie being labeled a "terrible child".

Blue: Independently the students reread pages 21-37. Then, in their RRJ, they wrote a headline to sum up and sell the chapter and then explained it. This group did not get a chance to meet.

There is NO reading HOMEWORK this evening...I wanted to give the students a chance to work on their Culture Project Posters which are due Monday, March 21.

After our literacy block the students enjoyed outdoor recess and lunch.

When the students returned to class, I introduced a new addition to our math block called "Train Your Brain". We will begin math with a problem posed to the entire group. Usually these problems will have more than one possible answer. They will all help the students see that math is everywhere and help them exercise their math brain.

As an example, today's problem was:
On Holman Farm there were cows and chickens.
Mrs. Holman wanted to buy each animal some shoes. She bought 76 shoes in all.
How many chickens and cows are there on Holman Farm?

After our Train Your Brain we began our math rotations.

During the small group, teacher-led, rotation, we practiced comparing fractions with like denominators or like numerators.

During math with a partner, the students engaged in math discourse, as they compared fractions, playing the game, "Are You My Equal?".

During the technology rotation, the students completed 10 comparing fractions problems using Ten Marks.

HOMEWORK is on Google Classroom. There is NO reading homework. Instead the children should use the time to work on their Culture Projects.